Aggregate spreader



Oct. 10, 1950 N. HARRIS AGGREGATE SPRGADGR 4 shets-sheet 1 Filed Feb.26, V1945 111 rel/tor N. HARRIS AGGREGATE SPREADER Qct. 10, 1950 VSheets-#Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1946 M. H .QN

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l ml/ 115 f 722123022 .Zzrali'v By G Q and Oct. .10, 1.950v N. HARRISAGGREGTE SPREADER 4 Sheetsf-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 26, 1946 Im'eutor awayZMZLWS N- HARRIS 4 Sheets-sheet 4 Filed Feb. 26, 1946 MY MN AWN MY mk Irentar www ezson -rz's Patented oa. 1o, 195o UNITED y AGGREGATE SPRADRNelson Harris, Pataskala, Ohio Application February ze, 1946, serial No.650,225

This; invention 1relates to 'aa aggregate spreader, such as is used inroad building and the primaryobje'ct of theihventior istoinslireA theaccurate distribution"of aggregate upon af road surface. A

Another object is to facilitate the continuous distribution of theaggregate without requiring periodic trips of the spreader to thesourceof aggregate supply, and to eliminate the necessity of providing rampsor loading platforms for use, in periodically filling the" spreader.

A stillfurther object of the invention is to increase the scope o'futility and the range of operation ofagg're'gate spreaders.

Aggregate spreaders now. in common use in road building are usually ofthe typeadapted to be attachedto a traction,i vehicle such as `a truck,or road building tractor, and" due to the type of the body containingthe aggregate above the surface being traversed it has ,heretoforebeennecessary to` build a ramp of suficient height above the aggregate`containingbody ofthe spreader to` enable a truck` to be drivenonto theramp in" order to discharge `its contents intothe body of the spreader.As a consequence the scope and` range of `utility `of suchvspreadershave been seriously impaired owing to the necessity of remaining withinAreasonable range `of theloading ramp or platform. Also clueltothepsitionof the driver of the traction vehicle it has been impossiblefor him to determine theexac't location of the spreader with relation tothe road bed with the result that irregular edges along the pavedsurface have been inadvertently producedso that a large amount of handlabor was required in order to compensate for these irregularities.

It is therefore a further object of this invention to enable the driverof the aggregate spreader accurately to follow the edge" ofthe road' bedin order that the aggregate may be uniformly spread on the desired area.

A still further object of the invention is to accurately gauge thequantity of aggregate deposited on a road surface inA agiven' distance.

The above and other objects may beattained by employing this inventionwhich embodies among its features a forward drive axle, traction wheelsat opposite ends of said drive axle, a frame suspended ,adjacent`its`forwad end frorrifthe drive axle, a caster `wheel supporting therear end of the frame, `aiprirfnefrnover onmthe frahuel connected todrive the axle, a control stand supported above and in longitudinalalignment with one traction wheel, and meansoperable from the controlstand for transmitting power fromA the prime mover to the tractionWheels.

` rection ofthe arrows,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a self-propelled.

aggregate distributor embodying the features of this invention,

Figure 2 is alongitudinal sectional view through the aggregatedistributor illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3is a side view in elevation of the agl gregate distributorillustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View through the distributor takensubstantially `on `the line l-llmof` Figure 3,

"Figure 5 is a View similar to-Figure 4 taken on the line 5-,5 of Figure3 andlooking in the ""di- Figure 6 is adiagrammatic planvi'ew of thisimproved aggregate spreader illustrating in` full lines the positionofthe spreader in use andillustrating in dotted lines the positionlofthe spreader with relation to a dump truck ready for loading,

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the` spreader chassis,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view illustrating the hingeconnection of the spreader body with the frame or chassis,

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9 9 ofFigure 8, and Y Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view`taken substantially along the line lll-I0 of Figure 1. i

Referring to thedrawings in detail the spreader chassisdesignatedgenerally l5 is composed of a pair of spaced parallel sidebars I6 joined atV their forward and rear ends by transversely ex-Atending end bars il to form an elongatedrecj tangular frame structure.Extending upwardly and forwardly from the front end of the chassis I5are brackets I8 which are providedat their upper ends with semi-circularrecesses or sockets I9 the purpose of which will more fully hereinaiter`appear.` Secured to the rear cross` barll ofthe chassis I5 is anupwardly and rearwardly arched bracket 2U carrying at its upper rear enda vertically disposed sleeve 2i, in the bore 22 of whichiis pivotallysupported theupper end of a fork 23 between the tines 2li of which isrotatably supported a caster wheel provided with a conventionalpneumatic tire 26. While the caster wheel 25 is described as being butone wheel it is to be understood that dual wheels may be employed assuggested in Figure 1. Extending across the upper side of the chassis l5near the front cross-bar I1 is a drive unit 21 comprising an axlehousing 23 provided intermediate its ends with a conventionaldifferential gear housing 29 in which a differential gear train ishoused in order to establish driving connection with the axle shafts 3U.The housing 28 is connected adjacent opposite ends to the chassis I5 bymeans of suitable brackets 3l andthe gear train housed within thedifferential housing 29 is driven by means of a drive shaft 32 carryinga drive sprocket 3S which is connected to a prime mover to be more fullyhereinafter ends of the drive axle 36 have driving connection with drivewheels 34 equipped with conventional pneumatic tires 35. It is toV beunderstood of course that these Wheels may be of the dual type commonlyemployed on vehicles of this character.

Mounted on one of the sidebars of the chassis I5 is a prime mover 36which in the present instance takes the form of a conventional internalcombustion engine, and connected to the drive shaft of the prime moveris a conventional transmission 31 having driving connection with I adrive shaft 38 carrying a sprocket 39 over which a chain 46 is trained.This chain 40 has driving connection with the drive sprocket 33, so thatthe drive wheels 34 may be operated under the influence of the primemover 36. clutch 4I is interposed between the prime mover 36 and thetransmission 31. Supported on the side bar of the chassis l5 adjacentthe prime mover 36 is a control stand 42 carrying a foot pedal 43 whichis connected with the clutch 4l so that the clutch may be manipulatedfrom the control stand, and a gear control lever 44 is likewiseassociated with the control stand for controlling the position of thegears withinY the transmission 31. Driven in any suitable manner fromthe drive shaft 38 is a tachorneter 45 by means of which the speed ofrotation of the drive shaft and consequently of the drive Wheels 34 maybe determined.

Supported on the brackets I8 and extending v transversely of the chassisl5 is an aggregate distributing trough 46 comprising a substantiallytransversely V-shaped body open at its lower end and supporting thereina distributing roller 41 by means of which aggregate deposited in thetrough may be distributed on the surface being traversed and which alsoserves to agitate aggregate within the trough to some extent. The trough46 and distributing roller 41 may be of conventional form, and of thetype commonly employed in apparatus of this nature. A suitableregulating gate 48 controls the feed of the aggregate from the trough 46to the roller 41, and this roller is driven by means of a sprocket 49over which a chain 50 having driving connection with a sprocket 5Iconnected to the drive axle is trained. An adjusting lever 52 controlsthe position of the gate 48V as will be readily understood uponreference to Figure 3.

An aggregate containing body designated generally 53 and comprising abottom 54, side walls 55 and a rear end wall 56 is provided adjacent itsforward end with pairs of spaced depending ears 51 (Fig. 9) andextending transversely between said ears are pivot pins 56 which aredescribed. Opposite A conventional adapted to seat in the recesses I9(Fig. 8) in the arms i8 in order pivotally to support the body 53 at theforward end of the chassis and in a position to deliver its contentsinto the trough 46. Separator plates 59 extend longitudinally of thebody 53 in spaced relation to the bottom 54 from` the rear wall 56 for adistance equal to about one-third of` the total length of the body andserve to retain the aggregate deposited therein against lateral shiftingmovement due to tilting of the spreader along its longitudinal axis.Similar separator plates 60 extend from a point about rits end oppositethe pivot 6I is a nut 63 having threaded engagement with a transverselyextending shaft 64 which is mounted for rotation in bearings 65 on theupper edges of the side Walls gested by the dotted lines in Figure 1.

55 and this shaft is provided with a squared end 66 to be engaged by asuitable wrench by means of which the shaft 64 may be rotated to causethe separator 62 to swing about its pivot as sug- It will be understoodof course that the swivelly mounted nut 63 is also arranged to movelongitudinally of the upper edge of the plate 62.

Pivoted as at 61 to opposite side rails I6 adjacent their rear ends arethe rear ends of a pair of hydraulic cylinders 68 containing pistons 69the outer ends of which are pivoted as at 10 to the sides 55 of the body53. It will thus be seen that as fluid under pressure is admitted to thecylinders 68 the pistons 69 will lift the body 53 and vcause it to swingabout the pivot pins 58 into the dottedline position illustrated inFigure f2 in. order to discharge the contents of thebody into the trough46. The hydraulic fluid used 'foroperating Vthe pistons 69 is supplied Ithrough a pump 1| driven from the prime mover 36 and connected through asuitable piping system with the control column 12 mounted on thecontrolstand 42.

In forder that the direction of motion of the spreader may be controlledfrom the control stand I provide on Veach drive wheel 34 a brake drum 13each of which contains an independently operable brake mechanism whichis also controlled v from the' control stand 42 within convenient reach'of the operator of the spreader. It will thus be seenrthat bymanipulating one or the other brake mechanisms to cause it to engage itsrespective drum, the drive wheels on that side of the device may beretarded or completely stopped so as to permit the vehicle to turn inanydirection according to the driving force of the opposite wheel. Y

In operation it will be understood that the aggregate spreader is loadedas suggested in Figure 6,' that is by turning the spreader into thedotted line position therein illustrated and discharging the content ofthe truck T into the body 53. l Having loaded the spreader it is turnedinto the position illustrated in the full lines in Figure 6 and vdue tothe fact that the operator is located on the control stand 42 directlyabove a pair of traction wheels it is obvious that he may follow theedge of the'roadway without diniculty,'thus insuring the proper depositof the aggregate on the surface. Knowing the volume of materialdeposited within the body 53, and being able to control the rate ofdischarge of the aggregate by manipulation of the lever 52 it is asimple matter for the operator to calculate the thickness of the layerof aggregate being deposited by governing his speed of movement throughthe medium of the tachometer 45. In this way the amount of aggregatedeposited may be readily regulated so as to assure a uniform layer onthe surface. ency of unequal distribution of the aggregate transverselyof the device due to its tilting about its longitudinal axis it is but asimple matter to apply a wrench to the squared end 65 of the shaft 64 soas to adjust the dividing plate 62 to meet the conditions. Due to thefact that the aggregate spreader is self-propelled, and is under-slungso that the greatest height of its body 53 is below the bottom of theconventional dump truck it will be obvious that the spreader may beloaded without the use of ramps or loading platforms and consequentlyits scope of utilityT and range of operation is virtually unlimited solong as dump trucks servicing the spreader are accessible to it, and toa source of supply of aggregate. By reason of the control of the drivewheels 34 independently of one another it is obvious that short turnsmay be made and the device may be held accurately on its course.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may`be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A self-propelled aggregate spreader which includes a forward driveaxle having a differential -gear train intermediate its ends, tractionwheels at opposite ends of the drive axle, a frame suspended adjacentits iront end from the drive axle, a caster wheel supporting the rearend of the frame, a control stand supported in vertical and longitudinalalignment with one traction wheel, a prime mover on the frame adjacentthe control stand, means operable from the control stand fortransmitting power from the prime mover to the diierential gear train,means operable from the control stand for selectively applying brakingpower to one or the other of said Should there be a tendtraction wheels,an aggregate distributing trough V carried by the frame and extendingtransversely across the full width of the spreader in advance of thetraction Wheels, an aggregate distribut ing agitator within said trough,means coupled to one of the traction wheels for driving the agitator inunison therewith as the spreader advances, and meter means coupled withthe traction wheel to indicate the speed of advance of the spreader andhence the rate at which the aggregate is being discharged as thespreader advances.

2. A self-propelled aggregate spreader which includes a forward driveaxle, traction wheels at opposite ends of said drive axle, a framesuspended adjacent its forward end from the drive axle, a caster Wheelsupporting the rear end of the frame, a control stand supported directlyabove and in longitudinal alignment with one of the traction wheels, aprime mover on the frame adjacent the control stand, means operable fromthe control stand for transmitting power from the prime mover to thetraction wheels to control the speed of advance, an aggregatedistributing trough carried by the frame transversely in advance of thetraction wheels and disposed so that an unobstructed view thereof may behad from the control stand, means including a distributing roller forcontrolling the rate of aggregate discharge from the distributingtrough, means viewable from the control stand for indicating the speedof advance, whereby an operator stationed at the control stand mayaccurately deposit an aggregate with respect to a road bed and also bycorrelating the speed of advance to the rate of aggregate dischargedeposit a predetermined volume of aggregate per unit and of road bed.

NELSON HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record ln the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 1,025,646 Roberts May 7, 19121,251,176 Braun 1- Dec. 25, 1917 1,261,388 Holmes Apr. 2, 1918 1,433,257Brooks Oct. 24, 1922 1,518,294 Allen Dec. 9, 1924 1,584,042 `ShedenhelmMay 11, 1926 1,790,050 Kellner Jan. 27, 1931 2,254,104 Joy Aug. 26, 19412,280,234 Harvey 1 Apr. 21, 1942 2,360,370 Grattan Oct. 24, 1944

